The 323rd Infantry Regiment was organized at Camp Rucker, Alabama, on June 15, 1942, and assigned to the 81st Infantry Division. After stateside training in Alabama, Tennessee, and California, it staged at Camp Stoneman, sailed from San Francisco on July 3, 1944, reached Hawaii on July 8, and moved through Guadalcanal for the western Carolines operation. During the Angaur landing on September 17, the regiment served as III Amphibious Corps reserve and feinted against the island's western shore, helping distract the Japanese while the 321st and 322nd Infantry Regiments landed on the east and northeast beaches.
The regiment then left the Palaus afloat and landed without opposition at Ulithi Atoll on September 22. It secured the atoll by September 24, giving the Pacific Fleet a major forward anchorage for operations toward the Philippines and later Okinawa. On October 16 the regiment assaulted Ngulu Atoll between Yap and the Palaus, part of the 81st Division's wider occupation of western Caroline positions for radar, loran, and base security. After service at Ulithi and nearby islands, the regiment moved to Peleliu, where the 321st Infantry had been grinding down the Umurbrogol Pocket.
On October 26 command of the Umurbrogol reduction passed to the 323rd Infantry. It took over positions around Five Brothers Ridge, Five Sisters, Death Valley, Mortimer Valley, Walt Ridge, Wildcat Bowl, and China Wall, with the 3rd Battalion, 321st Infantry, attached along part of the pocket. Heavy rain delayed renewed attacks, and progress came by sandbagged advances, patrols, tanks, flame throwers, demolitions, and cave sealing. The regiment resumed heavier attacks on November 13, compressed the final defenders onto China Wall, and declared organized resistance over on November 27. It lost 118 killed and 420 wounded, then moved to New Caledonia, Leyte, and occupation duty in Japan.
Sources and notes can be found on the Sources page.
View sources →